Letter 7036: I am writing to both of you together because the counsel I have for you belongs equally to a husband and wife who...

To Dynamius and Aurelia. [Summary heading:] Ever intent upon prayer, reading, and good works, may they advance toward better things. He promises a book. Gregory to Dynamius and Aurelia, in Gaul. The page of your writing, striking us as we read it, has by your zeal conferred upon us great gladness, now that it has been made known to us; for in this -- that it announced that you seek the nourishment of sacred reading and long for the joys of the heavenly fatherland -- it has shown that your charity loves a religious manner of life not only in name but also holds fast to it in your living. And since we are confident that you will attain the things you have desired, our heart rejoices together with you in vehement exultation. For, because divine grace does not abandon a desire of this kind, the Truth itself instructs us by the testimony of its own voice, saying: Everyone who seeks [...] (Matthew 7:8; Luke 11:12). Therefore, supported by this certainty, we ought to doubt nothing concerning the mercy of this same Redeemer of ours, but rather to take it up beforehand with undoubting hope. For He who granted the willing will by no means frustrate us through the bounty of His gift, but altogether grants the strength to obtain. For even this very thing -- to strive eagerly after it -- is itself a gift. Yet because we ought so to presume upon the grace from on high that we be not negligent in prayer or in work, it is expressed by the voice of the same Truth: One ought always to pray, and not to fail (Luke 18:1). Let us therefore ask by praying, let us seek by reading, let us knock by working. Let our mind, then, be watchful, let it be wary on every side, let it be solicitous everywhere, so that it may always be able to guard beforehand against the snares of the one who lies in wait. But because the more our enemy recognizes each one to be on guard against him, the more he strives by subtle craft to overthrow the hearts of those who resist him, let us beseech the almighty Lord with constant tears and supplication, that He suffer us not to be corrupted by the infection of his poison; but against the contests and the hidden suggestions which he brings to bear, let Him surround us with the shield of His power, upon which his darts, when struck against it, may be shattered, and the contact of his blow may not wound our heart; but rather, by the gift of His grace, may He grant us both to understand his snares and to overcome them. As for the book which we were to send -- such a one as might instruct you, as you requested -- we have by no means had it ready, but in what follows we shall transmit it.

AD DYNAMIUM ET AURELIAM. Orationi, lectioni, et operibus bonis semper inlenti, ad meliora proſiciant. Codicem pollicelur. Gregorius *® Dynamio et Aureliz per Franciam. Scriplorum vestrorum pagina lectione percussa magnam nobis studio vestro contulit indicalo Izti- tiam, quia per hoc quod vos sacrz lectionis pabula quzrere et Supernz palriz desiderare gaudia nun- tiavil, dilectionem vesiram religiosam cunversatio- Rem non solum amare nomine, $ed eliam Lenere vita monstravit. Et quoniam desiderata vos adepturos esse conlidimas, vebementi yobis cor nostrum ex- Sullatione congaudet. Nam quia hujusmodi deside- rium gratia divina non deserat, ipsa nos Veritas le- Slimonio $u@ vocis informal, dicens : Omnis qui qu@- Eersr, XXXV [Al. 32]. — * Similia nomina a Deo desumpla familiaria erant Afris, ut patet ex Augu- slino et ex notitia Afrieze, in qua plurimi recensen- tur episcopi QUuodvultdeus appellati. Consule nostrum Theod. Ruinart, in Hist. Yandalice persecut. © Id non legimus nisi in Turon. S. Gat. <&t in Va- tic. A eB. Eeisr. XXXVI "- 33). — * Sic legitur in omn- bus pene Mss. In Vatic. D tamen et in duobus Tel- ler., pro Dynamio, legitur Dynamic. Dynamius jam - notys ex ep'st. 33 lib. mw, et {2 hujusce libri v1, ubi Dynamius jungitur Aureliano, vel Aureliane ut (Matth. wn, 8; Luc. x1, 12). Hac itaque ſulti certi= tudine, de ejusdem Redemptoris nostri misericordia Nihil ambigere, sed 8pe debemus indubitata prexsy- mere. Nec enim muneris sui largitate frustrabitur, sed vires obtinendi prorsus indulget, qui velle cou- cessit. Nam jam hoc ipsum desideranter appeltere donum est. Quia tamen ita de gratia debemus $u- perna presumere, ut non simus negligentes in ora- tione vel opere, voce ejusdem Veritalis exprimitur : Oportet semper orare, et non deficere (Luc. xvin, 4). Petamus igitur orando, quzramus legendo, pulse- mus operando. Sit igitur mens vigilans, sit undique Suspecta, Sit ubique $ollicita, ut insidiantis possit Semper laqueos przcavere. Sed quia quanto hoslis B noster cautum contra $e unumquemque CoOgnosCcit , tanto corda sibi resistentium $8ublili molitur arte $ubvertere, omnipotentem Dominum assiduis lacry- mis et deprecatione poscamus, ul nos veneni ejus non Sinat inſectione corrumpi ; sed contra certa- mina et lalentes suggestiones quas ingerit potentie Suze N0S 8Culo circumlegat ; 1n quo jacula illius illisa ſrangantur, et cor nostrum percussionis ipsius con- tactus non vulneret, sed gratiz 8uz dono ejus nobis insidias et intelligere donet et vincere. Codicem vero quem dirigeremus, talem qui vos, ut petislis, in- $trueret, minime paratum habuimus, sed in subse- quenti transmillemus.